Automatic access to information service providers

ABSTRACT

A short dedicated code, such as an N11 telephone number, is used to access an information source selected from a large number of voice, data, facsimile and/or video services offered by information service providers. The system can use a single N11 number for all calls, or a first code number for preprogrammed call processing and a second number for casual access. The system can route an information service call based at least in part on preprogrammed selection data for the caller stored in a central data base, or can prompt a casual caller for various inputs to determine which service the caller currently wants to access. The disclosed system of call routing eliminates the need for information service users to know a large number of different telephone numbers to access a variety of information services. In the preferred embodiments, the user only needs to know one or two three-digit N11 type access numbers, such as 211 or 511. Because of the use of a programmable central data base, the system can provide customized routing and call processing procedures for different customers and for accessing different providers&#39; services. Also, the system allows easy modification and updating of the stored data to suit a customer&#39;s current needs for accessing different information sources. The system can also provide access authorization procedures as defined by the customer or as defined by the information service provider.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods and system structures forautomatically routing calls to customer selected information sourcesusing a dedicated short access number.

ACRONYMS

The written description uses a large number of acronyms to refer tovarious services and system components. Although known, use of severalof these acronyms is not strictly standardized in the art. For purposesof this discussion, acronyms therefore will be defined as follows:

Area Wide Centrex (AWC)

Action Control Point (ACP)

Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN)

Advanced Services Platform (ASP)

Automatic Number Identification (ANI)

Common Channel Inter-office Signalling (CCIS)

Data and Reporting System (DRS)

Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF)

Information Service Provider (ISP)

Integrated Service Control Point (ISCP)

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)

Local Access and Transport Area (LATA)

North American Numbering Plan (NANP) Number

Personal Identification Number (PIN)

Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX)

Service Circuit Node (SCN)

Service Control Point (SCP)

Service Creation Environment (SCE)

Service Management System (SMS)

Service Switching Point (SSP)

Signaling System Seven (SS#7)

Signaling Transfer Point (STP)

Station Message Detail Recording (SMDR)

Service Creation Environment (SCE)

Telephone Company (TELCO)

Transaction Capabilities Applications Protocol (TCAP)

BACKGROUND ART

There is an increasing demand to obtain a wide variety of informationover telephone lines. Many different companies provide informationservices in a wide range of formats including voice messages,computerized data bases, facsimile data, etc. The variety of informationthese services provide is virtually limitless. Examples include news,weather and traffic information, sports information and stock tickerdata. Information service providers also may take orders for productsand services, or offer other kinds of interactive functions. Typically,each Information Service Provider (ISP) will connect the equipment toprovide the information in facsimile, data or voice form to one or moretelephone lines. In the existing telephone network, each line connectedinformation source has a telephone number. Typically, to access thatsource, a caller dials the complete telephone number for that source. Toaccess a different source, the caller must dial a different number.

Alternatively, one information service provider might operate more thanone source, for example a newspaper has a headline news service, asports section service, a business service, etc. If such a provider doesnot want to require a separate number for each service, the providercould use a PBX or Centrex system with an automated attendant typefeature. Typically, the user would call one published number for theinformation service provider. The automated attendant system answers thecall, and the caller dials in a selection identifying the provider's oneservice the current call should connect to. The PBX or Centrex wouldthen connect the call to the appropriate information source. To reach adifferent information service provider, however, the caller must stillknow and use a different telephone number.

In the existing systems, whether one number identifies each actualsource or identifies a collection of information services of oneinformation provider, the numbers are all complete telephone numbers. Ifthe call to the service provider is a local call, dialing requires sevendigits. If the call is a long distance call, or the service uses an 800or 900 type number, the telephone number dialed is ten digits.Remembering and using a collection of seven and ten digit numbers toaccess all information sources a telephone subscriber might beinterested in is complicated and may actually discourage customers fromusing more than one or two different information service providers.

Clearly there is a need for a simpler access procedure in order toencourage increased public use of information services provided over thetelephone network.

It has recently been proposed to use a three-digit access approach. Eachinformation service provider would be assigned a three digit number, andthe telephone network would route all calls to the service providerwhenever a caller initially dialed those three digits. The three digitnumbers would be "N11" type special dedicated numbers easily recognizedby the telephone system, similar to the 911 number used for emergencycalls and the 411 number used for directory assistance. The number ofdedicated three digit numbers available, however, is quite limited. Infact there are currently only four such numbers, 211, 311, 511 and 711not already in use. The available N11 type three digit numbers thereforeconstitute an extremely scarce resource. The proposed three digit accesssystem would use up all four of the available N11 numbers. Anotherdrawback of the proposed three digit access system is that the callercould access only four information service providers using the threedigit numbers. One number would be dedicated to each information serviceprovider.

Thus a need exists for a system using a short access number or code to alarge number of information providers. To the extent that the systemuses special dedicated numbers, such as N11 numbers, the system must useas few as possible of such dedicated numbers.

In a related field, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) has beendeveloped to provide centralized control of telephone services providedto customers through diversely located central office switching systems.In an AIN type system, central offices send and receive data messagesfrom a Service Control Point (SCP) via a Switching Transfer Point (STP).At least some calls are then controlled through multiple central officeswitches using data retrieved from a data base in the SCP. In recentyears, a number of new service features have been provided by such anetwork.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,020 issued Jul. 5, 1988, to Joseph V. Fodale, forexample, suggests access authorization in a multiple office environment.The Fodale system restricts access to a long distance telephone networkbased on the status of the billing number associated with the call, i.e.delinquent. The access control is provided through multiple local andtoll offices but is centrally controlled by a data base which storesaccount status information. The local office serving a calling telephoneextends a toll call to the toll office of the toll network carrier. Thetoll office queries the data base via a CCIS link regarding the currentstatus of the customer's account identified by the billing numberassociated with the call. The data base obtains the status informationof the billing number in question and translates that status into aresponse message instruction to allow or disallow extension of the tollcall through the toll network. The data base transmits the responsemessage to the toll office via CCIS link, and the toll office disallowsor extends the call through the toll network as instructed by theresponse message.

A number of the features provided by the prior art AIN type intelligentnetworks relate to specialized call processing of incoming calls, asdiscussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,860 issued Mar. 4, 1980, to Roy P. Weber discloses asystem for providing special processing of incoming calls via a numberof local switching offices based on information stored in a central database. The local and toll offices of the telephone network compile a calldata message and forward that message via a CCIS link to the centraldata base, essentially a Service Control Point or SCP. The data base atthe SCP translates the dialed INWATS number, included in the message,into a call control message. The call control message includes anunlisted destination telephone number, which is then returned to theoffices of the network via CCIS link. The network uses the call controlmessage to complete the particular call.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,611,094 and 4,611,096 both to Asmuth et al. disclose asystem for providing custom incoming telephone call processing servicesto a corporate customer operating at geographically dispersed locationsthrough a plurality of local office switches. A customer program storedin a central data base is accessed to provide instructions to theswitches to complete incoming calls to customer locations in accord withspecial services defined by the corporate customer. Incoming calls tothe customer are routed to an Action Control Point (ACP) which typicallyis a modified toll office. The ACP has a number of "primitive" callprocessing capabilities, such as providing voice prompts to callers andreceiving additional caller inputs. The customer program controls theACP's to string together the desired primitive call processingcapabilities to process each call to the customer. Specified parametersstored in the program, such as time of day, caller location and datainputs responsive to the voice prompts, determine the final customerstation to which each cell should be completed. The customized callprocessing disclosed by Asmuth et al. can also include customizedbilling for calls, e.g, by splitting charges between the customer andthe caller. The Asmuth et al. system sets up a billing record for eachcall in the ACP or toll office. Asmuth et al. also teach procedures forhandling of calls directed to a corporate customer when the call servingoffice does not have all of the capabilities needed for processing thecall in accord with the subscriber's stored program. In particular, uponrecognition of the deficiencies of the call serving office, the Asmuthet al. system transfers call processing to a second office havingadequate capabilities for completion of the call.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,718 issued Nov. 29, 1988, to Sandra D. McNabb et al.suggests centralized recording of call traffic information. Thearchitecture is similar to that disclosed by the earlier discussedpatents to Weber and Asmuth et al. to the extent that local and tolloffices communicate with a central data base via CCIS link. The McNabbet al. system improves over the incoming call routing provided by theWeber patent and the two Asmuth et al. patents discussed above by addinga data gathering function to the centralized data base which stores theindividual subscriber's call routing program. In McNabb et al. thecentral data processor provides call attempt records and a traffic datasummary of all calls directed to a particular 800 number.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,267 issued Jul. 12, 1988, to Bernard J. Riskinteaches routing of an 800 number call, where the dialed numberidentifies a particular product or service, to the nearest dealer forthe identified product or service. The toll office sends a messageincluding the dialed 800 number and the area code of the caller to adata base which translates this into a standard ten digit telephonenumber for the nearest computer at a Customer/Dealer Service Company(CDSC). The telephone network then routes the call to this computer,which answers the call and provides a synthesized voice response. Thecomputer uses call data and or Touchtone dialed information from thecaller to identify the selected product or service and then accesses itsown data base to find the telephone number of one or more nearby dealersin that product or service. The computer then calls the dealer andconnects the original caller to the called dealer.

Several other patents use a network similar to the AIN type intelligentnetwork to provide personalized services to individual subscribers, forexample when they are away from their home telephone station.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,035 issued Jan. 26, 1982, to David S. Jordan et al.patent discloses a method of providing a person locator service throughmultiple exchanges of the switched telephone network. Each subscriber isassigned a personal number uniquely identifying the subscriber. Anabsent subscriber inputs a number to which calls are to be completed,such as the number where the subscriber can be reached, into a centraldata base. A caller wishing to reach the subscriber dials the numberuniquely identifying that subscriber. In response to an incoming calldirected to the unique number, a telephone switching office havingaccess to CCIS sends the dialed number to the central data base referredto by Jordan et al. as an SSP. The data base retrieves the storedcompletion number for the called subscriber and forwards that numberback to the switching office to complete the call. The subscriber canupdate the stored data from any telephone. Also, the subscriber canspecify whether to charge calls via the person locator system to thesubscriber or to the caller.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,373 issued Feb. 6, 1990, to Chinmei Lee et al.discloses a system for providing special telephone services to acustomer on a personal basis, when the customer is away form his or herhome base or office. A nationally accessible data base system storesfeature data in association with personal identification numbers. Asubscriber wishing to use personalized features while away from homebase dials a special code from a station connected to any exchange whichhas access to the data base and presents the personal identificationnumber. The corresponding feature data is retrieved from the data baseand stored in the exchange in association with the station from whichthe request was initiated. The exchange then provides telephone servicecorresponding to the subscriber's personalized telephone features. Atemporary office arrangement may be established in which thepersonalized features will be immediately available on incoming andoutgoing calls for a period of time specified by the subscriber.

Further modifications of the AIN system allow a TELCO to customize therouting of telephone calls via a graphical programming language used ona specialized terminal by telephone company personnel.

As seen from the cited patents, the prior art AIN systems have notprovided a single unified system for accessing information services froma wide variety of sources without providing separate numbers to reacheach information provider and/or each information source.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

1. Objectives

One objective of the present invention is to provide access toinformation services from a large number of service providers using ashort access code. The access code has fewer digits than are needed toidentify a destination station. The information provided can be invoice, data, facsimile or video formats, or combinations thereof.

Another objective of the present invention is to use prestored selectiondata to route short access code type calls to a selected informationsource.

Another objective of the present invention is to initiate an interactiveprompt and input sequence, following short access code dialing, toobtain selection information and route a call to an information serviceprovider.

A more specific objective is to use an intelligent communicationnetwork, storing routing data in a centralized data base, to selectivelyroute information service calls based on preprogrammed selection datafor the caller stored in a central data base, or based on a combinationof prestored selection data and interactive inputs from the caller.Alternatively, the network would initiate prompting of a casual callerfor various inputs to determine which service the caller currently wantsto access.

A further objective is to provide centralized program control tofacilitate customizing of routing and call processing procedures fordifferent subscribers and for accessing different provider's services.

Another objective is to allow easy modification and updating of thestored data to suit a subscriber's current needs for accessing differentinformation sources.

A still further objective of the invention is to provide customizedaccess authorization procedures, as defined by the subscriber or asdefined by the information service provider.

2. Summary of the Invention

To achieve the above stated objectives, the present invention providesaccess to a large number of information sources in response to dialingof a short dedicated access code, such as an N11 telephone number. Thesystem can use a single access code number for all calls, or a firstcode number for preprogrammed call processing and a second number forcasual access. The system routes information service calls based onpreprogrammed selection data for the caller stored in a data base, or ona combination of prestored selection data and interactive inputs fromthe caller. Alternatively, the system prompts a casual caller forvarious inputs to determine which service the caller currently wants toaccess. In the preferred embodiment, the user only needs to know asingle three digit N11 type access number. An alternate embodiment usestwo N11 type access numbers, such as 211 or 511.

The information services may take the form of voice messages,computerized data, facsimile data, video services, etc. Also, theinformation service providers may take orders for products and services,or offer other kinds of interactive functions.

In a first aspect; the invention is a method of routing calls toselectively provide communication links between calling communicationstations and selected stations of information service providers. Theinvention recognizes dialing from a calling communication station of aspecific code number prior to dialing of any other digits. The specificcode number consists of a predetermined number of digits fewer than aminimum number of digits necessary to completely identify a destinationcommunication station. Upon recognition of the dialing of the specificcode number, stored data associated with the owner of the callingcommunication station is accessed. The accessed information indicatescall processing procedures which the owner has selected for handling ofinformation service calls. The network executing the call processingmethod then routes the call from the calling communication station to aninformation service provider's station based on the call processingprocedures determined from the accessed information.

In the preferred embodiments, the call processing methods for accessinginformation services using a short code are implemented in anintelligent communication network having a plurality of interconnectedcentral office switching systems, each at a different location. Each ofthe central office switching systems connects to a number of localcommunication lines. Each central office switching system normallyresponds to a request on a local communication line connected thereto toselectively connect the requesting line to another selected localcommunication line. The connection can be made locally through only theconnected central office switching system, but when the called lineconnects to a distant station the connection is made through theconnected central office switching system and at least one other centraloffice switching system.

In a second aspect, the present invention is an information service callmethod using the above discussed intelligent network. This methodincludes the step of designating a subset of the plurality of localcommunication lines. The designation of these lines associates the lineswith subscribers to one or more of the information services. A centraldata base, separate from the central office switching systems, storesdata identifying an information service provider selected by each of thecustomers. The method further includes recognizing dialing on a localcommunication line of a specific code number prior to dialing of anyother digits. Again, the specific code number consists of apredetermined number of digits fewer than are necessary to completelyidentify a destination local communication line. The system interpretsdialing of the specific code number as a request for access to aninformation service. If the system recognizes that the request forinformation service access originates from one of the designated localcommunication lines, the stored data in the central data base isaccessed to identify the information service provider selected by thecalling subscriber. The data base provides this information to thecentral office switching system(s) for use in routing the call from thecalling communication station to a station associated with theinformation service provider selected by the one customer.

The system can be programmed to accept a selection input following theinitial dialing of the short code. If the caller dials certain numbersat this point the system executes an interactive routine with promptsand DTMF inputs of additional information, either to identify one of thecustomer's prestored selections from a menu or to uniquely identify aspecific destination for a casual call to an information sourceprovider. Here the call may be a "causal" call either because the callerhas not selected a preprogrammed information source provider or becausea customer wants to access an information source not included as aprestored selection in that customer's file in the central data base.Alternatively, the system can use a second short access code, forexample another N11 number, for processing of casual calls.

The use of a programmable central data base also facilitates customizedcall processing for different customers and for access to differentprovider's services. Furthermore, the system allows easy modificationand updating of the stored data to suit a customer's current needs foraccessing different information sources. Stored data associated with acustomer or stored data associated with an information service providercan activate an access authorization procedure, as defined by thecustomer or as defined by the information service provider.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the components of an AdvancedIntelligent Network system of the first embodiment of the system forimplementing the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a modified form of the AdvancedIntelligent Network system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an alternate embodiment of theAdvanced Intelligent Network system for implementing the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a further embodiment of anAdvanced Intelligent Network system for implementing the invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B form a flow chart showing an example of the callprocessing routine of the present invention for providing access via asingle short access code, e.g. one three digit number.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the call processing routine, which wouldbe substituted for that of FIG. 5A, for providing access via a firstshort access code for preprogrammed access and a second short accesscode for casual calling type access.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the system shown in FIG. 1, each of the central office switchingsystems are labeled as an "SSP." The Service Switching Points, referredto as SSP's, are appropriately equipped programmable central officeswitches present in the telephone network, which recognize AIN typecalls, launch queries to an Integrated Service Control Point. (ISCP) andreceive commands and data from the ISCP to further process the AIN typecalls. Each SSP type central office connects to a number of localcommunication lines, which in turn connect to customer premisestelephone equipment (shown in the drawing as standard telephone sets). Anumber of the local communication lines, however, connect the equipmentof information service providers, as indicated in the drawing by the ISPsystems.

SSP's can be programmed to recognize a number of different triggers asan indication that a call is an AIN call. For example, the trigger canrelate to the terminating station, or the identification of thetelephone line from which a call or other request for serviceoriginates. For purposes of short code access to information services,the trigger is dialing of the digits of a dedicated specific accesscode, before dialing of any other digit. Assuming, for example, thateach code is an N11 type code such as 211 or 511, the SSP's examine thefirst three digits dialed for each call and trigger AIN type servicingof a call upon detection that the first three dialed digits were 211 or511. Alternatively, the SSP's could initiate AIN processing followingevery detection of off-hook.

As shown in FIG. 1, all of the SSP capable central office switches 11,13, 15 and 17 are equipped and programmed to serve as SSP's. Suchcentral office switching systems typically consist of a programmabledigital switch with CCIS communications capabilities. One example ofsuch a switch is a 5ESS type switch manufactured by AT&T; but othervendors, such as Northern Telecom and Seimens, manufacture comparabledigital switches which could serve as the SSP's. The illustratedembodiment is perhaps an ideal implementation which would make shortcode access to information services widely available at the local officelevel throughout the network. As will be discussed later, otherimplementations provide the SSP functionality only at selected points inthe network, and end offices without such functionality forward calls toone of the SSP's.

The SSP's 11 and 13 connect to a first local area STP 23, and the SSP's15 and 17 connect to a second local area STP 25. The connections to theSTP's are for signalling purposes. As indicated by the black dots belowSTP's 23 and 25, each local area STP can connect to a large number ofthe SSP's. The central offices or SSP's are interconnected to each otherby trunk circuits (illustrated in FIG. 1 as bold lines) for carryingtelephone services.

The local area STP's 23 and 25, and any number of other such local areaSTP's shown as black dots between STP's 23 and 25 communicate with astate or regional STP 31. The state or regional STP 31 in turn providescommunications with the ISCP 40. The STP hierarchy can be expanded orcontracted to as many levels as needed to provide the informationservice access system to any number of stations and central officeswitches serving a geographic area of a particular size and population.The links between the central office switching systems and the localarea STP's are CCIS links, typically SS#7 type interoffice datacommunication channels. The local area STP's are in turn connected toeach other and to the regional STP 31 via a packet switched data networkwhich also typically is an SS#7 network. The regional STP 31 alsocommunicates with the ISCP 40 via a packet switched data network.

The messages transmitted between the SSP's and the ISCP are allformatted in accord with the Transaction Capabilities ApplicationsProtocol (TCAP). The TCAP protocol provides standardized formats forvarious query and response messages. Each query and response includesdata fields for a variety of different pieces of information relating tothe current call. Of particular note here, an initial TCAP query fromthe SSP includes, among other data, a "Service Key" which is the callingparty's address and digits representing the called party address. TCAPalso specifies a standard message response format including routinginformation, such as primary carrier ID, alternate carrier ID and secondalternate carrier ID and a routing number and a destination number. TheTCAP specifies a number of additional message formats, for example aformat for a subsequent query from the SSP, and formats for "INVOKE"responses for instructing the SSP to play an announcement or to play anannouncement and collect digits. A TCAP "SEND to RESOURCES" messageinstructs the switch to access an external resource, for example toobtain an announcement, and collect digits. In the present invention,the SSP provides an announcement and collects digits, in response to anINVOKE message or a SEND to RESOURCES message, at several points in thecall processing routines when additional selection information from acaller is necessary.

The present service could be implemented with one or more ISCP's perstate, to avoid overloading existing CCIS data links. Alternatively, theISCP could be implemented on a LATA by LATA basis or on a regionaloperating company basis, i.e. one data base for the entire geographicarea serviced by one of the Regional Bell Operating Companies. In fact,if federal regulations permitted, the data base service could becomenationwide.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ISCP 40 is an integrated system. Among othersystem components, the ISCP 40 includes a Service Management System(SMS) 41, a Data and Reporting System (DRS) 45 and the actual data baseor Service Control Point (SCP) 43. The ISCP also typically includes aterminal subsystem referred to as a Service Creation Environment or SCE(not shown) for programming the data base in the SCP 43 for the servicessubscribed to by each individual customer.

The above described data signalling network between the SSP type centraloffices and the ISCP is preferred, but other signalling networks couldbe used. For example, instead of the CCIS links, STP's and packetnetworks, a number of central office switches and an ISCP could belinked for data communication by a token ring network. Also, the SSPcapability may not always be available at the local office level, andseveral other implementations might be used to provide the requisite SSPcapability. For example, none of the end office switches may have SSPfunctionality. Instead, each end office would connect to a trunk tandemwhich in turn feeds calls to a central SSP capable switch. The SSP thencommunicates with the ISCP, as in the implementation described above,but in this case via an SS#7 type CCIS link. The SSP capable trunktandem switches are digital switches, such as the 5ESS switch from AT&T;and the non-SSP type end offices might be 1A analog type switches.

Although shown as telephones in the drawing, the customer premisesterminals can comprise any communication device compatible with theline. Where the line is a standard voice grade telephone line, forexample, the terminals could include facsimile devices, computers,modems, digital data equipment, etc. Similarly, the portable handsetscan incorporate both standard telephone communication components andother communication devices. In fact, the portable units may not behandsets at all. If desired, the portable unit may comprise anycommunication device compatible with the system, for example portablefacsimile devices, laptop computers, etc.

For each information service offered, the information service providerconnects an information source to an incoming telephone line. Thesources, referred to as ISP systems in the drawings, may comprise anysystem responsive to an incoming call to provide information and/orenhanced services. In perhaps the simplest form, the ISP system mightcomprise a device for answering incoming calls and playing out a singleprerecorded voice message. The ISP system might also include a database. If so, the data base could be accessible via a modem, or thesystem could detect DTMF tones and output selected items from the database as synthesized speech (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,129 to Riskin).Also, one or more of the ISP systems could provide data output infacsimile form or in video form. The ISP system could also accumulateinput information from the caller, using DTMF tone detection or voicerecognition, for example to take orders for products or services. TheISP system serving as the information source can be virtually anytelephone line connected system for providing an enhanced service, i.e.a service which is more than a pass through transmission of a customer'sown communication signals.

For standard telephone service, each central office switching systemnormally responds to a service request on a local communication lineconnected thereto to selectively connect the requesting line to anotherselected local communication line. The connection can be made locallythrough only the connected central office switching system. For example,for a call from station A to station B, the SSP 11 provides the callconnection without any connection to another central office. When thecalled line connects to a distant station, for example when station Acalls station C, the connection is made through the connected centraloffice switching system SSP 11 and at least one other central officeswitching system SSP 13 through the telephone trunks interconnecting thetwo central office switches.

In the normal call processing, the central office switching systemresponds to an off-hook and receives dialed digits from the callingstation. The central office switching system analyzes the receiveddigits to determine if the call is local or not. If the called stationis local and the call can be completed through the one central office,the central office switching system connects the calling station to thecalled station. If, however, the called station is not local, the callmust be completed through one or more distant central offices, andfurther processing is necessary. If at this point the call wereconnected serially through the trunks and appropriate central officesbetween the caller and the called party using in channel signalling, thetrunks would be engaged before a determination is made that the calledline is available or busy. Particularly if the called line is busy, thiswould unnecessarily tie up limited trunk capacity. The CCIS systemthrough the STP's was developed to alleviate this problem.

In the CCIS type call processing method the local central officesuspends the call and sends a query message through one or more of theSTP's. The query message goes to the central office to which the calledstation is connected, referred to as the "terminating" central office;for example, the query would go from originating SSP 11 to terminatingSSP 13. The terminating central office determines whether or not thecalled station is busy. If the called station is busy, the terminatingcentral office so informs the originating central office which in turnprovides a busy signal to the calling station. If the called station isnot busy, the terminating central office so informs the originatingcentral office. A telephone connection is then constructed via thetrunks and central offices of the network between the calling and calledstations. The receiving central office then provides a ringing signal tothe called station and sends ringback tone back through the connectionto the calling station.

The call processing routines discussed above are similar to those usedin existing networks to complete calls between stations connected toland lines. In an AIN type network system implementing short code accessto information services, these normal call processing routines wouldstill be executed for completion of calls between customer stations andeven for information service calls not using the access code.

When a call is routed from a calling customer station to a stationassigned to an information service provider, the central officeswitching systems connect the requesting line to another selected localcommunication line which connects to the selected ISP system. If theline to the ISP system connects to the same end office as the caller'sline, the connection is made locally through only the connected centraloffice switching system. For example, for a call from station A to theISP₁ system, the SSP 11 provides the call connection without anyconnection to another central office. When the called ISP system lineconnects to a distant central office switch, for example when station Acalls either of the ISP₂ systems labeled source 1 and source 2, theconnection is made through the connected central office switching systemSSP 11 connected to the calling station A and at least one other centraloffice switching system SSP 13 and the telephone trunks interconnectingthe two central office switches. Each of the local communication lineswhich connects to one of the ISP systems has a different assignedtelephone number. As discussed in detail below, however, the presentinvention eliminates the need for the caller to remember all thedifferent telephone numbers for the different ISP systems.

The present invention uses a short access code to trigger routing ofcalls to information service providers. The system can prompt a callerfor further inputs and receive dialed digits, if necessary, to obtain aselection of an individual information service provider and/or anindividual service from that provider. The ISCP provides instructions tothe originating SSP telling it to provide any necessary announcementsand collect any necessary digits at various points in the callprocessing sequence. The ISCP analyzes the collected digits input by thecaller and retrieves data from a customer's file and/or from a file forthe information service provider and determines the complete telephonenumber to which the selected ISP system is connected. The ISCP providesthat complete destination number to the originating SSP which then usesthat complete telephone number to route the call. For example, assumethat a customer at station A wants to access the information serviceprovided through the ISP₃ system. The customer dials the dedicated shortcode, e.g. 211, on station A. The ISCP derives the complete telephonenumber for the ISP₃ system, for example 703-987-6543, from its storedprograms and any necessary interactive inputs, and provides that tendigit number to the SSP 11. The SSP 11 routes the call through the SSP15 and the interconnecting trunk circuits to the ISP₃ system using theCCIS type call routing procedures discussed above. The short coderesponsive AIN type call processing routines will be discussed in detailbelow with regard to FIGS. 5A to 6.

The SSP type switch, such as the 5ESS switch manufactured by AT&T,includes a message platform. Typically the message platform providesservice announcements used in telephone call processing. Theseannouncements include a number of tone signals and synthesized speechmessages. In the system of FIG. 1, any announcements used for the shortcode access to information services would be provided by messageplatforms of the SSP's in response to the "INVOKE" type messages fromthe ISCP. This approach, however, requires reprogramming the platform inthe switch itself to provide different messages. Also, the capacity ofthe message platform to provide a variety of messages is limited, andthis limited capacity restricts the number and variety of messages whichthe system can provide during information service call processing. FIG.2 therefore shows a modified version of the system which can provide awider variety of announcements.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the SSP type central offices 11, 13, 15 and17 connects to a peripheral announcement platform 11A, 13A, 15A and 17A,respectively. The peripheral announcement platforms each connect to theassociated SSP switch via an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)link shown as solid lines, for carrying both voice and signaling data.The peripheral announcement platforms also connect via a packet switcheddata communication network, such as x.25, to the ISCP.

Each peripheral announcement platform comprises a programmed system forsynthesizing voice announcements in response to command data from theISCP. For example, the peripheral announcement platforms might eachinclude a personal computer with an X.25 interface and a text to speechtype voice synthesizer and an ISDN interface.

The network of FIG. 2 operates essentially the same as the network ofFIG. 1. Some or all of the various INVOKE messages used in processingcalls through the system of FIG. 1, however, are replaced with a "SENDto RESOURCE" type TCAP message from the ISCP instructing an SSP toaccess a resource and collect digits. This message identifies aparticular resource, in this case an ISDN type voice channel to theassociated peripheral announcement platform. Each time the ISCP sendssuch a "SEND to RESOURCE" message to an SSP, the ISCP concurrently sendsa message through the X.25 data link to the associated peripheralannouncement platform. This message tells the platform what message toplay on the specified ISDN channel at that time. If the messageannouncement platform has a text-to-speech converter, the announcementcould take the form of virtually any desired script.

As discussed briefly above, other intelligent network architectures canimplement the inventive short code access to information services. Twoparticularly significant example appear in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the SSP 311 and the end office 312 each connect vialocal communication lines to a number of customer premises equipmentterminal devices and connect via trunk circuits to a trunk tandem 350. Alocal office is essentially a switching system providing switchedconnections between local lines and trunk circuits, whereas a trunktandem is a switching office which provides trunk to trunk connections.

The architecture of FIG. 3 provides connections to the informationservice provider's systems through the trunk tandem. For example, theISP₂ system connects via a trunk directly to the tandem 350. In contrastthe ISP₁ system connects via a local communication line to the SSP typeend office 311 and via a trunk circuit to the tandem 350. The trunkconnections to the tandem reduce loss of service to the informationservice providers since all calls to ISP₂ system would go through thetandem and trunk circuits and would not be interrupted by failures ofany one end office. Similarly, the network would alternately route callsto the ISP₁ system through the tandem and trunk circuits in the event offailure of the SSP 311 or of the local communication line between thatoffice and the ISP₁ system. An information service provider whose systemmust handle a high volume of calls and can not afford substantialservice interruption might use two sources, such as the ISP₁ and ISP₂systems shown in FIG. 3, and the ISCP would be programmed to route callsto the second system in the event the first failed.

The office 311 is an SSP type office and connects to an STP 331 forcommunication with distant offices (not shown) and with the ISCP 340.The end office 312 does not have SSP capability, however, the ASP typetrunk tandem 350 can recognize AIN triggers and provide communicationswith the ISCP 340 via STP 331. For AIN type calls, such as for the shortcode access to information services, the SSP capable switch 311communicates directly with the STP 311 which relays communications toand from the ISCP, in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1.The end offices, such as 312 which lack SSP capability, routes shortcode calls, e.g. in response to a recognized N11 code, to the trunktandem 350, For such calls the tandem suspends call processing, andrelays data to and from the ISCP in a manner similar to that performedby the SSP. The ASP type trunk tandem switch is a digital switch, suchas the 5ESS switch from AT&T; and the non-SSP type end offices might be1A analog type switches. The trunk tandem would provide all necessaryannouncements for information service calls arriving through end office312, using the built in announcement frame or using an associatedperipheral announcement platform (not shown) similar to those discussedabove with regard to FIG. 2. This network architecture and callprocessing allow customers to use the short code access to informationservices through virtually any type of end office switch.

Alternatively, all short access code type calls for information servicescould go through the ASP type trunk tandem. Both the SSP 311 and thenon-SSP type end office 312 would respond to the short code, e.g. 211 or511 by routing the calls to the trunk tandem and forwarding all ANIinformation to the tandem. The ANI includes both the called number, inthis case the 211 or 511, and the calling number. The short code wouldtrigger AIN type query and response processing between the tandem 350and the ISCP 340. This approach has the advantage that all informationservice call announcements would have to reside in only the tandem orits associated peripheral announcement platform, without providing theannouncements at each end office.

FIG. 4 illustrates an intelligent network architecture, usingdistributed intelligences rather than a single Integrated ServicesControl Point (ISCP). In the illustrated example, The SSP type centraloffices 411, and 413 each connect to a number of customer premisesterminal stations and to one or more ISP systems via local communicationlines. The SSP's are interconnected via voice trunks, and the SSP's 411and 413 connect to an STP 431. The STP 431 routes data signalling typecommunications between the SSP's, between the SSP's and distant offices(not shown), and between the SSP's and an SCP 443. In this case, the SCP443 is essentially only a computerized data base.

The SCP 443 in turn connects to a Service Management System (SMS) 441. Atechnician inputs new or modified service data through a terminalsubsystem referred to as a Service Creation Environment or SCE 451, anda validation process within the SMS 441 checks the input forcompleteness and compatibility with the existing programs of thenetwork. The service data is then loaded as necessary into the databasein the SCP 443, and as needed into a Service Circuit Node (SCN) 453.

The Service Circuit Node (SCN) 453 is actually the key logic element inthis embodiment of the invention. The SCN connects via a direct voiceand data signalling link to the SSP type switch, and although shown as aseparate element is typically an adjunct processor device directlyassociated with one of the switches. The SCN 453 stores the actualcontrol programs and many of the look up tables for controlling actualcall processing.

In the network of FIG. 4, one of the SSP's will detect when a caller atone of the terminal stations dials the dedicated short number code, e.g.an N11 code. That SSP will then launch a TCAP query through the STP 431to the SCP 443. The SCP checks its data base to determine that thecaller is a customer and determines what general type of service thecaller has requested, in this case that the caller has requested accessto an information service by dialing the N11 code. The SCP transmits a"SEND to RESOURCES" message back to the originating SSP instructing thatSSP to access a channel to the SCN 453. The SCP also sends a messagethrough the SMS 441 and the X.25 packet switched data network to the SCN453 telling the SCN what type of call processing routine to execute. Asneeded, the SCN looks up information in its data tables relating to thecalling customer and any identified information service provider, andthe ISP decides how to complete the call without further reference tothe SCP.

For interactive processing, playing announcements to the caller andcollecting digits, the SCN 453 may include an announcement frame similarto that included in an SSP, or the SCN may connect to a announcementplatform 453A.

Call Processing Using a Single Access Code

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an example of the call processing, in flowchart form, for the preferred embodiment using the system shown in FIG.1 and using only a single dedicated access number.

To initiate any call, a telephone user takes the telephone handset offhook and dials digits. As shown in FIG. 5A, the central office examinesthe first three digits to determine whether or not the customer hasdialed the information service access number. In the example used here,the number is an N11 type three digit number, specifically 211. OtherN11 numbers or other specific numbers of fewer or more digits could bedesired, so long as the system recognizes an initial dialing of thosedigits as a request to access an information service provider.

Assuming that the system uses the 211 as the access number for theinformation service provider, if the caller has not dialed 211 as thefirst three digits, the system executes its normal call processingroutines. In a typical case this involves collecting seven or ten digitsto identify a local or long distance call destination and completing thecall to the dialed destination. Thus, the digits 211 can be included instandard seven or ten digit telephone numbers, so long as the digits 211are not the first three digits of the telephone number.

If the first three dialed digits were 211, the system processes the callas an information service call. The originating SSP type central office(CO) suspends the call and sends a query to the ISCP via one or moreSTP's. This query message is in the above described TCAP format for aninitial query from an SSP. The query message includes a substantialamount of relevant information. For purposes of this discussion, theimportant elements of the message are the dialed digits and theidentification of the telephone line from which the party originated thepresent call. Using current TCAP query protocols, the SSP will pad thethree digit number to form at least a seven digit dialed number. Forexample, the SSP would convert 211 to 550-1211. In future, however, asthe software modules in the SSP's and the ISCP are updated, the querymessage would provide only the actual digits dialed, e.g. only 211. Theoriginating SSP sends the TCAP query via a CCIS link to an STP. The STPrecognizes that the query is addressed to the ISCP and retransmits thequery, either directly or through a further STP, and through the packetswitched network as in FIG. 1, to the ISCP.

The ISCP recognizes the dialed digits, either the three digits actuallydialed or the padded number including the dialed three digit number, asa request for connection through the network to an information service.The ISCP therefore sends a TCAP "INVOKE" message. The INVOKE messageinstructs the originating central office to provide an announcement tothe user. The announcement could be in the form of a subsequent dialtone or synthesized speech message. If a tone message is used, theservice providers would advertise the system with instructions as towhat digit to dial at this point in the procedure, and persons who usethe system regularly would know how to respond at this time. If thesystem uses a synthesized voice prompt, the message would tell thecaller that if the caller is not preprogrammed or wishes to access aninformation service provider other than those currently preprogrammedinto that customer's file, the caller should dial a specific digit, e.g.9. The specific digit, in our example the digit 9, therefore indicatesthat the present call is a casual access call.

The INVOKE message sent by the ISCP also instructs the originatingcentral office SSP to subsequently collect a specified number of digits.The system could collect two digits at this point, but in the exemplarycall process of FIG. 5A, the system collects only a single extra digit.The central office collects the extra digit, for example a DTMF dialeddigit sent from the calling station, and sends a subsequent message tothe ISCP via the STP(s) including the collected digit. The ISCP analyzesthe dialed digit and the calling line identification data from theoriginal TCAP query and decides how to proceed.

If the caller is not preprogrammed to the system, or if the collectedextra digit is the specific digit, e.g. 9, the ISCP processes the callas a casual call using an interactive routine. Specifically, the ISCPsends a second TCAP "INVOKE" message instructing the originating SSP toprovide another announcement to the caller and collect digits. Thesecond announcement could also be in the form of a subsequent dial toneor synthesized speech message. The second announcement serves to ask thecaller to enter a specified number of additional digits identifying aparticular Information Service Provider (ISP). In a preferredembodiment, each provider might have an assigned four digitidentification code which the provider would publicize in advertisementsfor the provider's services. The casual caller therefore would dial aselected provider's four digit identifier at this point.

Four digits have been used as an example, but the system could use feweror more digits to identify providers. The number of digits depends onhow many different information service providers the system should routecalls to. If three digits are used and the announcements to this pointare tone signals, the caller has dialed 211, heard a tone, dialed 9,heard a second tone, and dialed three more digits such as 123. Theprovider therefore would advertise the service as accessible via theseven digit number 211-9-123. A three digit identification scheme allowsthe system to service a thousand information service providers, and afour digit scheme would allow the system to identify ten thousandinformation service providers.

The originating central office SSP collects the specified number ofdialed digits for identifying one of the information service providersand sends a subsequent message to the ISCP via the STP(s) including thecollected digits. The ISCP uses these latest collected digits to accessan ISP table listing all of the information service providers andthereby identifies which Information Service Provider (ISP) the currentcaller selected. Processing then proceeds to B in FIG. 5B. The ISCPchecks the data file for the particular information service provideridentified by the digits and determines if this provider operatesinformation sources accessed through more than one destination number.

If the particular service provider uses only one access number, the ISCPformulates an instruction message including the destination number ofthat information service provider and sends that message to the SSP viathe STP's. The SSP type office then routes the call using thedestination number received in the instruction message.

The information service provider may operate different informationsources, for different types of information, which a call accesses via adifferent line assigned a different destination number. For example anewspaper might provide sports information using a voice message replaymachine on one line, headline news on another line, and a computer database on a third line. In such a case, when the ISCP checks the data filefor the particular newspaper type information service provider, thatdata file will indicate that the identified provider has sourcesaccessed through more than one destination number. The ISCP sendsanother TCAP "INVOKE" message instructing the originating SSP to providea further announcement to the caller and collect digits. The number ofextra digits is determined by the number of separate sources operated bythe identified information service provider, as indicated by thatprovider's data file. The text of the message could also be specified inthe provider's file. This announcement could also be in the form of asubsequent dial tone but preferably is a synthesized speech messageasking the caller to enter a specified number of additional digitsidentifying a particular information source destination for the currentinformation service provider (ISP).

The SSP sends the announcement to the caller, collects the specifiednumber of additional digits and sends a message including those digitsback to the ISCP via the STP's. Using these latest collected digits, theISCP accesses a data file for the identified information serviceprovider and retrieves the corresponding destination number. The ISCPthen formulates an instruction message including the destination numberof the selected source for this information service provider and sendsthat message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP type office then routesthe call using the destination number received in the instructionmessage. The destination number may be seven, ten, fifteen or moredigits and result in routing of the call to virtually anywhere in theworld. The casual user, however, did not have to dial the completedestination number, and typically the caller will never know the actualdestination number.

Returning to FIG. 5A, where the ISCP analyzed the dialed digit and thecalling line identification data from the original TCAP query, the ISCPfirst determined whether or not the caller was preprogrammed. The ISCPstores information service call routing data for callers designated ascustomers to this access service, and the ISCP checks to determine ifdata for this caller is included in its customer files. If the caller ispreprogrammed, the ISCP checks the dialed extra digit to determinewhether or not the caller dialed 9. If the preprogrammed caller dialedany number other than 9, then the present call should proceed based onthe caller's preprogrammed data.

Now the ISCP checks the dialed extra digit to determine if the callerselected the menu option. A second predetermined digit would identifymenu selection. For example, if the system uses the digit 8 to representa menu request, the ISCP now determines whether the present caller inputan 8. If there was no dialed menu request, the ISCP assumes that thepreprogrammed caller dialed a request for one the information serviceproviders to which the present caller currently is preprogrammed and forwhich the ISCP stores call routing data.

Since one digit, e.g. 9, identifies a casual service request and asecond digit, e.g. 8, represents a request for a menu option, thecustomer can preprogram as many as eight different information serviceprovides for single digit selection. If the system provides access to anoperator, the 0 digit would be assigned for this purpose and the ISCPwould recognize the dialing of 0 and instruct the SSP to route the callto an operator station (steps for routing to operator not shown in flowchart). With the operator option, there are still seven digits availablefor preprogrammed selections. Alternatively, the system could use a twodigit selection at this point in call processing which would provide alarger number of preprogrammed selections.

The ISCP uses the extra dialed digit representing a preprogrammedselection to access the calling customer's data file and identify oneinformation service provider. Processing then proceeds to A in FIG. 5B.The ISCP checks the data file for the particular information serviceprovider identified by the one extra dialed digit and determines if thisprovider operates information sources accessed through more than onedestination number.

If the particular service provider uses only one access number, the ISCPformulates an instruction message including the destination number ofthat information service provider and sends that message to the SSP viathe STP's. The SSP type office then routes the call using thedestination number received in the instruction message.

Alternatively, the information service provider may operate differentinformation sources, for different types of information (e.g. voice,data, video or multimedia), which a caller accesses via differentincoming telephone lines each assigned a different destination telephonenumber. If such is the case, the ISCP next accesses the caller's datafile to determine if the caller has preprogrammed one of the destinationinformation sources for the identified service provider. If the customerhas programmed a destination for this information service provider, theISCP retrieves the destination number from the caller's data file. TheISCP then formulates an instruction message including the destinationnumber and sends that message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP typeoffice then routes the call using the destination number received in theinstruction message.

In either the situation where the information service provider uses onlya single destination number or the caller preprogrammed a single sourceoffered by this provider, the preprogrammed caller has dialed only fourdigits. Such a caller dialed 211, heard a tone or speech message, dialeda single selection digit, and the system used prestored data from theISCP to determine the actual destination telephone number. Although theactual number may be seven digits, ten digits, fifteen digits or more,the caller never had to know or dial all of those digits. For example,if the service is this caller's #1 preprogrammed service, the callerdialed 211, heard an announcement, dialed 1, and the ISCP provided thedestination number, such as the number 703-987-6543 used in an earlierexample.

If the preprogrammed caller's data file does not indicate a programmedselection of one of the identified information service provider'sdestination sources, the ISCP must obtain a further selection from thecaller identifying one information source as the call destination. TheISCP therefore sends another TCAP "INVOKE" message instructing theoriginating SSP to provide a further announcement to the caller andcollect digits. This announcement could also be in the form of asubsequent dial tone or synthesized speech message and serves to ask thecaller to enter a specified number of additional digits identifying aparticular information service destination for the current informationservice provider (ISP).

The SSP sends the announcement to the caller, collects the specifiednumber of additional digits and sends a message including those digitsback to the ISCP via the STP's. Using these latest collected digits, theISCP accesses a data file for the identified information serviceprovider and retrieves the corresponding destination number. The ISCPthen formulates an instruction message including the destination numberof the selected source for this information service provider and sendsthat message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP type office then routesthe call using the destination number received in the instructionmessage.

Returning to FIG. 5A, if when the ISCP analyzed the first extra dialeddigit the ISCP determined that the caller had requested menu type callprocessing, the ISCP now retrieves the menu. If the announcementplatform providing the messages has sufficient capacity, the menuprogram could be customized by each customer, and the ISCP wouldretrieve the menu form a portion of the preprogrammed caller's datafile. If the message capacity of the announcement platform isrestricted, the menu would be standardized and the ISCP would retrievethe menu from some common point in its data base system. The ISCP sendsanother TCAP "INVOKE" message instructing the originating SSP to providea further announcement to the caller and collect digits. Thisannouncement, which would include the complete list of menu options,would be in the form of a synthesized speech message. Typically, themenu would correspond to the customer's available preprogrammed serviceprovider selections, and the menu announcement would read the optionsand corresponding single digit selection numbers to the customer. Theselection numbering would be the same as that used by the preprogrammedcaller without the menu, but listening to the menu announcement allowsthe caller to select an information service provider without previouslywriting down or memorizing the list of preprogrammed selections.

At this point the caller again dials a single digit which the SSPcollects. The originating SSP type central office sends a message to theISCP via the STP(s) including the latest collected digit. The ISCPanalyzes the dialed digit and the calling line identification data fromthe original TCAP query message to determine which preselectedinformation service provider the caller has selected for purposes of thecurrent call. Processing then flows to A in FIG. 5B and proceeds fromthat point, as described above.

In each of the announcement and digit collection steps in the callprocessing routine discussed above, the SSP would connect a DTMF tonedetector to the caller's line while the SSP transmits the announcementto the caller: The caller therefore can input the next digit or set ofdigits during the announcement if the caller knows what number to dialat that point in the call processing routine. The experienced callertherefore need not always wait to hear the entire content of eachannouncement.

The above call processing methodology is just one example of a routinepermitting access to information service providers using a single accesscode. Other call processing routines can provide access using the singlecode. For example, in one alternative, customers having preprogrammedselections would dial 211 and then 2# or 23#, in a manner similar tospeed calling, to indicate that they want a preprogrammed informationservice provider. The # sign would signify an end of digit dialing sothat the switch and the AIN would know that no more digits will follow.After receiving the # signal, the switch would send a message includingthe dialed digits to the ISCP; and the ISCP would access the data baseto retrieve a preprogrammed selection from the calling customer's storeddata. Casual users would dial "211" plus the number of digits necessaryto reach a particular ISP, e.g., four additional digits. The ISCP woulduse the four digits to determine the desired ISCP from an ISCP table.This method eliminates the need for digits such as 0, 8 and 9 to have aparticular meaning. Also, it is possible to use a full 10,000 numbers toidentify the information service providers after dialing the single N11code whereas a dialing plan using a 211+9XXX for casual access wouldallow only 1,000 information service providers.

Call Processing Using Two Access Codes

As an alternative to the above call processing, the invention could beimplemented using two dedicated numbers as prescribed access codes. Iftwo N11 type numbers are available, for example 211 and 511, one numberidentifies a request for access using preprogrammed service selections.The second access code would then be used for casual calls, either bypreprogrammed or non-preprogrammed customers. FIG. 6 illustrates thecall processing routine which would be substituted for that portion ofthe above discussed call processing routine illustrated in FIG. 5A.

To initiate any call, a telephone user takes the telephone handset offhook and dials digits. As shown in FIG. 6, the central office examinesthe first three digits to determine whether or not the customer hasdialed one of the two dedicated information service access numbers. Inthe example used here, the numbers are each a different N11 type threedigit number, specifically 211 and 511. Other N11 numbers or otherspecific numbers of fewer or more digits could be used, so long as thesystem recognizes an initial dialing of those digits as a request toaccess an information service provider.

Assuming that the system uses the 211 and 511 numbers as the accesscodes, if the caller has not dialed either of those numbers as the firstthree digits, the system executes its normal call processing routines.In a typical case this involves collecting seven or ten digits toidentify a local or long distance call destination and completing thecall to the dialed destination.

If the first three dialed digits were 211 or 511, the system processesthe call as an information service call. The originating SSP typecentral office (CO) suspends the call and sends a query to the ISCP viaone or more STP's. This query message is in the above described TCAPformat for an initial query from an SSP. The query message includes thedialed digits either in three digit form or padded to form a seven digitnumber. The TCAP query also includes the identification of the telephoneline from which the party originated the present call. The originatingSSP sends the TCAP query via a dedicated CCIS link to an STP. The STPrecognizes that the query is addressed to the ISCP and retransmits thequery, either directly or through a further STP, and through the packetswitched network as in FIG. 1, to the ISCP.

The ISCP determines if the dialed number in the TCAP message indicatesthat the caller initially dialed 211 or dialed 511. If the number dialedwas 511, the system processes the call as a casual information servicecall, whether the call comes from a non-preprogrammed customer or from acustomer who now wishes to casually call an information service providernot included in the preprogrammed selections for that customer. The callprocessing for such casual calls using 511 will be discussed in detaillater.

If the number dialed was 211, the system processes the call as aninformation service call requesting processing using customer selectiondata programmed into the ISCP data base. The ISCP first checks theidentification of the telephone line from which the party originated thepresent call. If the line does not correspond to a recognized customer,the ISCP sends a return result message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSPresponds to this message by terminating the call.

If the line does correspond to a recognized customer, the ISCP accessesthat preprogrammed caller's data file. The ISCP analyzes the caller'sdata file to determine if this preprogrammed caller has only onepreprogrammed selection of an information service provider. If there isonly one preprogrammed selection, the ISCP identifies the provider (ISP)from the caller's data file. Processing then proceeds to A in FIG. 5B.The ISCP checks the data file for the particular information serviceprovider identified by the digits and determines if this provideroperates information sources accessed through more than one destinationnumber.

If the particular service provider uses only one access number, the ISCPformulates an instruction message including the destination number ofthat information service provider and sends that message to the SSP viathe STP's. The SSP type office then routes the call using thedestination number received in the instruction message. If the provideroffers more than one service, using more than one destination number,the ISCP next accesses the caller's data file to determine if the callerhas preprogrammed one of the destination information sources for theidentified service provider. If the customer has preprogrammed adestination for this information service provider, the ISCP retrievesthe destination number from the caller's data file. The ISCP thenformulates an instruction message including the destination number andsends that message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP type office thenroutes the call using the destination number received in the instructionmessage.

The above discussion highlights an important advantage of the callprocessing routine using a second number for casual calls. If the calleris preprogrammed to only one provider, and either that provider offersonly one service or the caller has preprogrammed only one service fromthe provider, the system routes the call through based entirely onpreprogrammed data. In such cases the system does not play anannouncement of any type or ask for any further digit inputs. The ISCPprovides the destination number, in our example a ten digit number suchas 703-987-6543 from the caller's data file, without the caller dialingthat number or any other digits except 211. To the calling customer itlooks as if the system routed the call entirely in response to only theinitial dialing of the 211 code.

Alternatively, at the step where the ISCP checks the caller's data fileto determine if the preprogrammed caller's data file indicates aprogrammed selection of one of the identified information serviceprovider's destination sources (FIG. 5A), the ISCP may find that thecaller has not specified one destination only. The ISCP therefore mustobtain a further selection from the caller identifying one informationsource as the call destination. The ISCP now sends a TCAP "INVOKE"message instructing the originating SSP to provide an announcement tothe caller and to collect digits. This announcement could also be in theform of a subsequent dial tone or synthesized speech message and servesto ask the caller to enter a specified number of additional digitsidentifying a particular information service destination for the currentinformation service provider (ISP).

The SSP sends the announcement to the caller, collects the specifiednumber of additional digits and sends a message including those digitsback to the ISCP via the STP's. Using these latest collected digits, theISCP accesses a data file for the identified information serviceprovider and retrieves the corresponding destination number. The ISCPthen formulates an instruction message including the destination numberof the selected source for this information service provider and sendsthat message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP type office then routesthe call using the destination number received in the instructionmessage.

Returning to FIG. 6, at the point where the ISCP checks the number ofstored selections in the caller's data file, the ISCP may find that thecaller has preprogrammed to more than one information service provider.The ISCP sends a TCAP "INVOKE" message instructing the originating SSPto provide a further announcement to the caller and collect digits. Thisannouncement could include a complete list of menu options in the formof a synthesized speech message. Alternatively, the message at thispoint could be a tone message, but the system would allow the caller toselect a menu option to proceed through another query and responseoperation including playback of a complete synthesized speech menu,similar to that of FIG. 5A but not shown in FIG. 6.

At the time of the announcement requesting selection of an informationservice provider, the caller dials a single digit which the SSPcollects. The originating SSP type central office sends a message to theISCP via the STP(s) including the latest collected digit. The ISCPanalyzes the dialed digit and the calling line identification data fromthe original TCAP query message to determine which of severalpreprogrammed information providers the caller has selected for purposesof the current call. Processing then flows to A in FIG. 5B and proceedsfrom that point, as described above.

Now suppose that the caller dialed 511 to provide casual access to aninformation service provider. Thus in the routine of FIG. 6, at thepoint where the ISCP first examined the dialed digits, the ISCP findsthat the caller dialed 511 instead of 211. The ISCP sends a TCAP"INVOKE" message instructing the originating SSP to provide anotherannouncement to the caller and collect digits. This announcement couldalso be in the form of a subsequent dial tone or synthesized speechmessage. The announcement serves to ask the caller to enter a specifiednumber of additional digits identifying a particular Information ServiceProvider (ISP). In a preferred embodiment, each provider might have anassigned three or four digit identification code which the providerwould advertise in advertisements for the provider's services. Thecasual caller therefore would dial a selected provider's three or fourdigit identifier at this point. The system could use shorter or longerstrings of digits to identify providers, depending on how many differentinformation service providers the system should route calls to.

The originating central office SSP now collects the specified number ofdialed digits for uniquely identifying one of the information serviceproviders and sends a subsequent message to the ISCP via the STP(s)including the collected digits. The ISCP uses these latest collecteddigits to access an ISP table listing all of the information serviceproviders and thereby identifies which Information Service Provider(ISP) the caller selected. Processing then proceeds to B in FIG. 5B. TheISCP checks the data file for the particular information serviceprovider identified by the digits and determines if this provideroperates information sources accessed through more than one destinationnumber.

If the particular service provider uses only one access number, the ISCPformulates an instruction message including the destination number ofthat information service provider and sends that message to the SSP viathe STP's. The SSP type office then routes the call using thedestination number received in the instruction message.

Alternatively, if the information service provider operates differentinformation sources, accessed using a number of different destinationtelephone numbers, then the ISCP still needs additional selectioninformation in order to determine how to complete the present call. TheISCP therefore sends another TCAP "INVOKE" message to the SSP via theSTP(s). This message instructs the originating SSP to provide a furtherannouncement to the caller and collect digits. This announcement couldalso be in the form of a subsequent dial tone or synthesized speechmessage and serves to ask the caller to enter a specified number ofadditional digits identifying a particular information servicedestination for the current information service provider (ISP).

The SSP sends the announcement to the caller, collects the specifiednumber of additional digits and sends a message including those digitsback to the ISCP via the STP's. Using these latest collected digits, theISCP accesses a data file for the identified information serviceprovider and retrieves the corresponding destination number. The ISCPthen formulates an instruction message including the destination numberof the selected source for this information service provider and sendsthat message to the SSP via the STP's. The SSP type office then routesthe call using the destination number received in the instructionmessage.

Possible Modification of Call Processing Routines

The call processing routines discussed above relate to the system ofFIG. 1 wherein SSP type central office switches include the announcementplatforms which provide all of the announcements. For the system of FIG.2, any INVOKE messages which should produce a speech announcement wouldbe replaced with an instruction to Send to a Resource, the peripheralannouncement platform, and collect the appropriate digits. The ISCPwould send messages directly to the peripheral announcement platform toidentify the particular message for output to the SSP at any given time.The peripheral announcement platform approach allows customizing themessages provided, either by programming in the ISCP or programming theprocessor of the peripheral announcement platform. For example, if theperipheral announcement platform includes a text to speech converter,the ISCP would store customized announcements in text data formspecified by customers and/or information service providers. The ISCPwould then send text messages to the peripheral announcement platformfor conversion to speech and output to the caller. This could beparticularly useful in providing callers with customized menuannouncements reflecting their personal preprogrammed informationservice providers and/or services offered by individual providers.

The network architecture of FIG. 3 would use processing similar to thatshown in FIGS. 5A and 5B except that if the SSP type capability residesin the tandem, the tandem would launch the messages to the ISCP andwould receive back the instruction and INVOKE messages from the ISCP.Also, in the system of FIG. 3, an announcement peripheral could be addedto the tandem, in which case the messages back to the tandem wouldinclude the Send to Resource message, in place of one or more of theINVOKE messages shown in the flow charts. The system of FIG. 4 would useSend to Resource commands identifying the SCN and the SCN would performdata analysis and control routing through the SSP.

Access Authorization

The present system can also provide a variety of access authorizationcontrol features, for example requiring the caller to input a personalidentification number (PIN) to complete the call.

For any of the above discussed information service calls, at any one ormore of several different points in the call processing routine, thenetwork would suspend call processing and send a query to the ISCP inthe usual manner. The ISCP retrieves data for the customer correspondingto the originating line and/or data relating to procedures for accessinginformation sources or providers. The ISCP at this point checks theretrieved data and determines whether or not an access authorizationprocedure is required. If the retrieved data indicates that no accessauthorization is required for the present call, the system processes thecall in the manner discussed above.

If instead the retrieved information indicates that access authorizationis required for the specific service now requested, the ISCP sends aTCAP "INVOKE" message. The INVOKE message instructs the originatingcentral office to provide an announcement to the user. This announcementcould be in the form of a subsequent dial tone or synthesized speech andwould ask the caller for an access authorization code, e.g., thecaller's PIN. The INVOKE message also instructs the originating centraloffice to subsequently collect the number of digits needed for theauthorization code. The central office collects digits, for example DTMFdialed digits, and sends a subsequent query to the ISCP via the STP(s).The subsequent query includes the collected digits.

The ISCP checks the entered code against a list of valid codes. If thecode is not valid, the ISCP sends a return result message instructingthe CO to terminate the call. Although shown and described as a singlequery and check for a valid code, the data base could provideinstructions to go back and repeat the request and code entry procedureallowing the user a specified number of attempts to enter a valid codebefore denying service. If the code digits match a valid code, thenetwork resumes call processing and ultimately routes the call to theappropriate destination as described above.

The above described access authorization control, because of the use ofprogrammed data stored in the SCP, can be easily adapted to a variety ofaccess authorization control scenarios. The customer can preprogram inan access authorization procedure, either for all calls using the shortcode access of for all calls to certain types of information serviceproviders or for calls to certain sources offered by specific providers.Also, the information service providers preprogram the ISCP data filesto require an access authorization procedure and determine whichincoming calls require such screening. The only difference in theauthorization procedure is precisely where in the call processingroutine the system performs the above described access authorizationprocedure. To illustrate this point, we will discuss several possiblescenarios.

In a first example, assume that a customer has requested an accessauthorization procedure for all information service calls from thecustomer's home telephone line. The ISCP, after receiving the initialTCAP query with dialed digits and ANI identifying the calling line wouldaccess the data file for the calling line and realize that the customerrequested the authorization procedure. The system would then execute theannouncement and digit collection procedure to determine if the currentcaller knows the access code and is therefore authorized to make aninformation service call from that line. This allows the customer tolimit who can make such calls from the home telephone line by simply notgiving out the authorization code. In particular, families may want toprohibit children from using such services and running up excessivebills for such calls.

In a similar scenario, the customer might request execution of theaccess authorization procedure at some point just after the finaldestination has been identified. Certain identified providers and/orsources would indicate a need for access authorization and others wouldnot, and the distinction could be based on the type of informationprovided by each. Parents for example, might want to allow calls tosports lines without use of an access authorization code but require useof the code for calls to dial-a-porn numbers.

Alternatively, the information service provider, knowing the sensitivenature of the information provided or the high charges which use of aparticular service might incur, could specify that all calls directed tothat provider or to a specific one of that provider's informationservices require access authorization. The authorization procedure wouldoccur after the identification of the provider and possibly afteridentification of one of that providers services. This allows theprovider extra control over access to sensitive materials.

The programmability of the SCP data base allows an almost unlimitedvariety of access authorization scenarios dependent on the desires ofthe customers and the information service providers.

Service Creation/Modification

Another advantage of the present system is the ability to write andmodify the customer's stored data file at any time to suit thecustomer's current information service needs. In an initialimplementation, the changes in the data base will probably be mademanually by a telephone company technician. Specifically, a technicianoperating the ISCP would establish or enter changes in the customer'sdata files. The customer would ask the telephone operating company for achange, and the operating company would issue a service order to thetechnician for each change. The technician would then use the SCEterminal to actually enter the changes into the data base, and thetelephone company would bill the customer for the change.

Customers, however, are increasingly asking for control over their owncommunication services. The present invention will provide such controlby allowing the customer one of several forms of access to their datafiles in the ISCP.

A preferred implementation of such a service creation/modificationfeature would use another interactive voice and DTMF input type accessprocedure similar to those used to select individual providers andindividual services, using synthesized speech prompts. The customerwould dial a specified number to initiate programming, for example aseven digit number such as 550-0211. The call could be routed throughthe network to an appropriate automated voice response system coupled tothe ISCP. Alternatively, the SSP connected to the line could interpretthis dialed number as an AIN trigger and respond to instructions fromthe ISCP to provide voice messages from an associated peripheralannouncement platform and forward dialed digits and ANI data to the ISCPas TCAP messages. In either case, if the customer calls from thatcustomer's own line, the ANI information for the call serves to identifythe customer. Alternately, the customer could enter an identificationnumber. The ISCP would receive and use the ANI or dialed DTMFidentification number to identify the customer's data files. The ISCP,however, would grant access only to the identified customer's files.

The voice response system would provide synthesized speech prompts andaccept DTMF inputs to allow individual customers to enter their ownchanges in their data files in the ISCP. This interactive voice responsetype system would prompt the caller with messages directing the callerto select items from a menu of possible entries or changes in thecustomer's information service selection data file. For example, if thecustomer preprograms to one sports line service, the customer could callin and cancel the service or switch to a different service, etc. Themenu items would only include entries which were compatible with the AINsystem processing procedures, and entries would be stored in the datafile only after they are determined to be complete and systemcompatible.

For a more sophisticated customer, access might be provided via aPersonal Computer, a data terminal or some other form of work station.Such a customer would call in and establish a data link to the ISCP.Security is controlled through the terminal and/or the line from whichthe terminal calls in to the ISCP. The terminal may have a built insecurity code which the ISCP verifies before granting access to the database, or the ISCP may check the originating telephone number and theterminal identity number against a stored number from which thatterminal is expected to call. Once access was granted, however, theterminal would still only have access to an individual customer's filesor the files of employees of a business customer. Other customer'sfiles, and the programming which controls system operation, would not beavailable through such terminal access. As in the DTMF access system,the terminal access procedure would limit the customer's entries tocomplete entries which were compatible with the AIN system operatingparameters. Alternatively, the terminal or workstation could be ownedand operated by one or more of the information service providers. Theservice provider would sell services to individual customers, and thenthe provider would use the terminal to enter new service selections orenter changes in the customer's selected processing routines (e.g.menus) on behalf of that provider's individual customers.

The ISCP includes a validation system, which is an expert systemprevents incompatible entries. For example, the validation systemprevents entry of service changes which would create infinite loops thatwould cause the switch to malfunction. The validation system wouldcontrol entry of new services and changes in service for each type ofcustomer access to the ISCP data files.

The present invention thus provides access to a large number informationsources in response to dialing of a short dedicated access code, such asan N11 telephone number. The system can use a single N11 number for allcalls, or a first code number for preprogrammed call processing and asecond number for casual access. The system routes information servicecalls based on preprogrammed selection data for the caller stored in acentral data base, or on a combination of prestored selection data andinteractive inputs from the caller. Alternatively, the system prompts acasual caller for various inputs to determine which service the callercurrently wants to access.

The disclosed system of call routing eliminates the need for informationservice users to know a large number of different telephone numbers toaccess a variety of information services, without dedicating allavailable N11 codes to a corresponding limited number of informationservice providers. In the preferred embodiment, the user only needs toknow a single three digit N11 type access number, such as 211 or 511.

The use of a programmable central data base also facilitates customizingof routing and call processing procedures for different customers anddifferent provider's services. Furthermore, the system allows easymodification and updating of the stored data to suit a customer'scurrent needs for accessing different information sources. Anotheradvantage is that the system can provide access authorizationprocedures, as defined by the customer or as defined by the informationservice provider.

We claim:
 1. A communication network, comprising:local communicationlines; a plurality of separately located central office switchingsystems interconnected via trunk circuits for selectively providingswitched call connections between at least two of the localcommunication lines; a services control point, separate from the centraloffice switching systems, comprising a database storing call processingdata associated with a plurality of the local communication lines forcontrol of call processing through one or more of the central officeswitching systems; a first signalling communication system for two-waycommunications of data messages, said first signalling communicationsystem interconnecting the central office switching systems andconnecting the central office switching systems to the services controlpoint; a peripheral platform connected to at least one of the centraloffice switching systems via a call connection channel, said peripheralplatform comprising means for providing at least one information servicevia the call connection channel; and a second signalling communicationsystem, separate from the first signalling communication system and thecentral office switching systems, for providing two-way communicationsof data messages between the peripheral platform and the servicescontrol point to control provision of the at least one informationservice by the peripheral platform.
 2. A communication network,comprising: local communication lines;a plurality of separately locatedcentral office switching systems interconnected via trunk circuits forselectively providing switched call connections between at least two ofthe local communication lines; a services control point, separate fromthe central office switching systems, comprising a database storing callprocessing data associated with a plurality of the local communicationlines for control of call processing through one or more of the centraloffice switching systems; at least two peripheral platforms, each ofwhich connects to at least one of the central office switching systemsvia a call connection channel, each of said at least two peripheralplatforms comprising means for providing an information service inresponse to instructions from said services control point; and asignalling communication system separate from said trunk circuits fortwo-way communications of data messages between the central officeswitching systems, between the central office switching systems and theservices control point, between the at least two peripheral platformsand between the at least two peripheral platforms and the servicescontrol point.
 3. A call processing method for a communication systemhaving at least two switching offices, a plurality of communicationlines connected thereto and a central control separate from theswitching offices, said call processing method comprising the stepsof:receiving a request for service via one of the communication lines;providing a call connection from said one of the communication lines toa peripheral platform, without obtaining instructions from said centralcontrol; communicating between said central control and said peripheralplatform to identify an information service to be described by saidperipheral platform in response to said request for service; andexecuting the identified information service via said call connection.4. A call processing method for a communication system having at leasttwo switching offices, a plurality of communication lines connectedthereto and a central control separate from the switching offices, saidcall processing method comprising the steps of:during processing of acall from one of the communication lines, detecting a triggering event;if the triggering event is of a first predefined type, sending a queryfrom one of the switching offices to the central control, transmittingcall processing data from the database in the central control to the oneswitching office, and establishing a call connection from said one ofthe communication lines through at least the one switching office inresponse to the transmitted call processing data; and if the triggeringevent is of a second predefined type, providing a call connection fromsaid one of the communication lines to a peripheral platform withoutobtaining instructions from said central control, communicating betweensaid central control and said peripheral platform to identify aninformation service to be described by said peripheral platform, andexecuting the identified information service via the call connection tothe peripheral platform.